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' (No Model.) Sheets-Sheet 1.

R'TALOOT LABEL MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 3,1895.

INVENTOB.

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QNDREW ,G RAHAM. HIM-UWQWASHINGTDNJC.

(No Model.) r 4 Sh eets-Sheet F. TALOOTT.

LABEL MACHINE No.'550,'73'l' Patented Dec 3, 1895.

lNVENTOR WITNESSES.

ATTORNEYS.

ANDREW EHIAHANL PNDTO-UYHQWASHING'ION. DLv

(No Modei.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

F. TALOOTT. LABEL MACHINE.

No. 550,731. Patented Dec. 3, 1895.

AT'I'O R N EYS.

Fries.

FRED TAIJCOTT, OF PROVIDENCE, RIIODE ISLAND.

LABEL-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,731, dated December 3, 1895.

Application filed March 1 3, 1 8 9 3.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED TALCOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Label-Machines 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which'it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for printing and cuttin labels from a continuous web of paper.

Hitherto it has been usual, so far as I am aware, in the production of punched labels to cut them from sheets of paper on which the labels have been first printed, in which event the printed sheets are introduced and fed singly by an attendant to suitable punching mechanism. Sometimes a number of printed sheets are superimposed one upon a11- other and the whole then fed by the operator to the punching device, in which case a corresponding number of labels are cut out at one operation. Sometimes the punchingmachine is provided with a series of cutters adapted to cut a corresponding number of labels or blanks from the sheet simultaneously, the attendant feeding the latter along by hand after each set of punchings have been produced. A common method of cutting out. labels is that wherein male and female dies are employed, the upper or male die being forced through the stock or paper by means of blows from a mallet, or l1and-puncl1ing,as it is termed. In some cases the movable die is mounted in a press and operated by footpower. Such former machines and attendant methods produce a large percentage of waste an d in1perfect labels, while at the same time the cost of making the labels is increased, the latter result being due largely to the fact that an operator is required and that his movements cannot keep pace with machinery adapted to be run at quick speeds.

The object I have in view is to produce punched printed labels complete and ready for use in a much more expeditious and Serial No, 465,676. (No model.)

cheaper manner than hitherto. To that end I provide an automatically-operating machine with one or more adjustable printing-heads adapted to print the labels upon the surface of a web of paper whose free end portion is intermittingly fed ahead to be acted upon by said heads, punching mechanism working simultaneously with the printing devices arranged to cut or punch the printed labels from the web of paper, and feeding mechanism located between the said punching and printing devices adapted to simultaneously draw the printed portion of the continuous web of paper intermittingly from the printing mechanism and push it rearwardly past the feeder there to be acted upon by the punching device, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

A printing-machine well adapted to be provided with my improvement is the one patented to T. A. Briggs August 15, 1882, No. 262,566. I11 fact, the drawings accompanying the present application for patent illustrate portions of said patented machine.

In the appended four sheets of drawings, Fig. 1 Sheet 1, is a side elevation of a combined printing and punching machine adapted to cut labels from a continuous web of pa per. Fig. 2 is an end elevation viewed from the rear or delivery end of the machine. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is an enlarged perspective View showing the bottom or fixed female die pro vided withclearer-fingers. Fig. 4E is a similar view of the male die or punching-head provided with a series of cutters or punches. Fig. 5 is avertical central sectional view, enlarged, showing the lower portion of one of the punches. Fig. 6 represents a piece of the web of paper or stock on which is indicated a series of labels and also the appearance of the paper after the labels have been cuttherefrom. Fig. 7, Sheet 3, is a transverse sectional View, enlarged, taken substantially on line so 00 of Fig. 1, showing the combined guiding and feeding device as adapted to simultaneously draw the paper from the printinghead and push it rearwardly to the punching mechanism. Fig. Sis an end view. Fig. 9 is an end view of the feeder-wheel, &c. Fig. 10 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same and including a portion of the feedrack and frame. Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view taken on lineccx of Fig. 10. Fig. 12, Sheet 4, is a front elevation showing the relative arrangement of the feeding devices and the manner of operating them; and Fig. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line x x of Fig. 12.

In the drawings, '11 indicates the main framing or bed of the machine resting on legs ZZ, the complete machine being indicated by A. To the right end of the machine is secured a vertical frame m, in which the main driving mechanism is mounted. Certain of the driving-shafts t 25 extend longitudinally of the machine and are also mounted in the printing-head framelb and the punch-frame Z7 (See Figs. 1 and 2.) The primary shaft 25 is actuated by a belt 19 running over a pulley 19 secured to the shaft. A small gear-wheel g", Fig. 2, fixed to the last-named shaft, operates to rotate the main shaft t through the medium of the larger gear g. These two shafts are adapted to be continuously revolved.

I make no claim herewith to printing mech anism, the one represented being substantially the same as the printing-machine patented to Briggs, before referred to. The bottom bed m of the machine is provided with the usual platen. The upper or swinging bed m is adapted to carry the type-chase, over which the ink-rollers 1n pass prior to each impression. The ink-rollers receive ink from the distributing-table 112 also as common. The printing-head as a whole is indicated by C. It is mounted upon the bed a and secured in place in any well-known manner.

At the right end of the machine is located a double-acting feeding device B, adapted to feed the free end of the web of paper 29 from the roll 29. The paper passes under a weight or tension roll r, thus operating to maintain the paper in a smooth and flat state at all times. This feeding mechanism is actuated through the medium of a horizontal rack-rod 20, provided with a slotted head 7t, Figs. 12 and 13, in which the crank-pin box k is adapted to slide. The box is attached to the crank it and is adapted to be moved nearer to or farther from the crank-shaft by a screw k thereby rendering the feed-stroke adjustable, as desired. This feeding device, as drawn, is practically the same as that shown and described in Briggss patent, No. 262,566. The crank is adapted to be continuously rotated by means of upper bevel-gears c, actuating the vertical shaft a, mounted in bearings formed in the fixed standard 0, from which shaft bevel-gears c actuate the crank-shaft, substantially as in the patent before referred to.-

The punching mechanism D is located at the opposite or left end of the machine and is mounted in the frame b secured to the bed a, the frame also supporting the ends of the said shafts 25 t. The punch-head a is fitted to move vertically in ways formed in the frame 5 the movement being effected by an eccentrio 0, secured to the shaft 25, jointed to a beam Z), and the link cl, jointed to the front end of the beam and to the lower portion of the head a, as at d, Fig. 2. The bottom end of the punchhead is enlarged to form a seat a for the upper or male die holder a the latter being held in position by set-screws a (See also Fig. 4E.) The base of the punch-frame is extended toward the front and forms a corresponding seat f for the lower or female die holder 0, which latter is retained by screws f. (See Fig.

The upperholder a maybe adapted to carry one or a series of dies or cutters e. In the drawings I have represented six dies arranged to cut out a corresponding number of labels from the web of paper at each downward stroke. If desired, the cutters may vary in size and shape and they are secured in the holder in any suitable manner. The bottom or working face of each die 6 is recessed, as at c, Fig. 5, the sides 6 being slightly beveled and sharpened at the outer edge or periphery. The said recess or chamber forms an air-cushion adapted when in use to neatly expel the blank or label from the die by means of the expansion of the air temporarily confined therein. It will be seen, referring to said Fig. 5, that the actual cutting-face e is not at exactly right angles with the longitudinal axis of the die, but is formed obliquely to it. This arrangement serves not only to reduce the force or power usually required for cutting, but it further operates when coacting with the female die to produce a shearing effect in cutting the labels from the web or stock 1).

The lower holder or plate 0 is provided with a series of female dies or openings 0, corresponding in size and number with the upper or movable dies 6 just described.

To the right and left sides of the seat-base f (being the feeding and delivery sides, respectively) are secured brackets a, which project above the face of the holder 0, the same extending from the front to the rear side of the base, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The inner faces of the brackets are provided each with a tongue to, arranged to engage with a series of clearer-bars .9, about to be described. These bars are formed, say, of sheet-brass and lie edgewise horizontally, they being so placed that the lower edges are adapted to prevent the paper" 19 from rising. The ends of the bars are grooved transversely to receive the tongues 10 of the said fixed brackets a. Each bar is, as drawn, provided at its rear end with a yoke a" and thumb-screw s wherebyit may be clamped to the bracket in any desired position.

E indicates the combined feeding and guiding device, the same being located between the printing and punching mechanisms before described. Practically I prefer to secure the housing or framing r of the said feeding device close to the right side of the holderbase f, as represented. lVhile this feeder is in some respects similar to the intermittent IOO IIO

feeding device patented to said Briggs, yet it is unlike it in other features. For example, in the patented mechanism the paper is intermittingly fed ahead, and at the same time it is trimmed and slitted longitudinally by means of rotary cutters or shears. In my arrangement the lower shaft o carries a long roll 1), and the upper shaft 0 is provided with a pair of adj ustably-secured narrow rolls '0 the latter being kept in yielding contact with the surface of the lower roll, or rather the paper p interposed between them, by springs o whose tension is regulated by top screws r (See Figs. 7 and 8.) I would add that the diameters of the upper and roller rolls are alike. To the forward side of the feeding device E is secured a bracket n, the same 6X.

tending from frame to frame above the papers surface. Guide-fingers a are adj ustably secured to the bracket n by means of screws 02 passing through the heads n of the fingers, as represented. The mechanism for actuating the feed-rolls is more clearly shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11. The lower-roll shaft is extended rearwardly, a gear-wheel y, provided with an overhanging rim, being secured to the corresponding end. Between this gear and the adjacent face of the frame 4) a smaller gear-wheel w, engaging with and actuated by the rack-bar w, is mounted to turn upon said shaft, the latter gear being provided with a rear hub, to which is secured a disk 1 whose periphery is cut away to form three camshaped openings, in each of which is placed a short roller or click 1 each of the latter in turn being resisted by a light spiral spring 11 The two roll-shafts are adapted to revolve in unison by means of said gear 'y, combined with and engaging a substantially-duplicate gear y, secured to the upper roll-shaft o The arrangement of the parts before described is such that when the rack-bar is moving in one direction it causes the series of small rollers 1 to pinch the adjacent cam-surfacesof the disk and that of the inner face of the lower gear-rim, and thus causing all the parts to revolve; but whent he rack-bar is moved in the opposite direction the rollers g are freed from the gear-rim, the rack-wheel turning independently of the then stationary gears yy. Thus it will be seen that the feeding device E operates to feed the paper in one direction intermittingly, the feed-stroke being regulated by the crank-screw 10 before described.

The operation of my improved label-machine may be described as follows, assuming first, however, that the several parts have been properly arranged and adjusted substantially as represented in Fig. 1.

The action of the initial feeding device B is to draw the web of paper 19 from the roll in a practically'continuous manner, the weightroll a" at the same time serving to take up the slack and maintaining a substantially uniform tension upon the paper. The printing mechanism 0 and punching device D are so set or adjusted with relation to each other that the distance between them from center to center is or may be a multiple of the corresponding intermittent feed of the paper, the arrangement being such that while the printing de vice is printing upon the web of paper a row or series of impressions, as represented at 'i, Fig. 6, a corresponding number of punches c operate simultaneously therewith to punch or cut out from the paper a previously-printed series of impressions, said punchin gs forming the labels. In Fig. 6 the dotted circles i indicate the relative position of the punches to the printed matter and z" the corresponding holes formed in the paper by the act of cutting the labels.

The principal feeding device E is, as before stated, employed to intermittingly feed a length of paper (corresponding to the then unit of feed) to the printing device, at the same time withdrawing the last-printed portion from the press and pushing a previously printed section of the web into position beneath the punches e, the last-punched por- -tion being simultaneously forced endwise from the punch bed. The printed paper passes from the feeder E through the side opening 3 Fig. 3, thence between the lower edges of the clearer-bars s and the upper face of the die 0, and finally through a similar side opening formed at the opposite side of the punch-basef. The labels automatically drop from the punches, as before described, and fall into a suitable receptacle beneath. These clearers are adjustable and serve to free the paper from the punches while the latter are moving upward. I would state that if the feeding device E be located at the left of the punching mechanism its action then is very unsatisfactory, from the fact that it produces in the surface of the paper slight waves or undulations in a longitudinal direction. Moreover, the paper is liable to tear apart at the narrow ties separating the holes by reason of the tension or pull to which it is subjected while being thus fed.

By employing paper 19, in which one-of its surfaces-say the under one-has been previously gummed, it is obvious that the labels produced therefrom are rendered adhesive and ready for use without being further acted upon.

It is apparent that more than one set of printing mechanisms may be used, in which event the labels may be printed in more than one color. It is to be understood that in such case the printing mechanisms must be so adjusted that the distance between the several forms will always bear a certain relation, so that the several impressions will register properly. It may be necessary to add that in any event the printing and punching mechanisms work simultaneously, or substantially so.

I claim as my invention- 1. In alabel-machine, the combination with one or more male dies adapted to be reciprocated to and fro in a vertical direction, of-

IIO

stationary female dies arranged to coact with said male dies, and adjustably mounted laterally separated stationary clearer-bars located just above the face of said stationary dies, substantially as hereinbefore described and for the purpose specified.

2. In a punching device provided with male and female dies, fixed brackets, as u, and a series of laterally separated clearer-bars, as s, adjustably secured to said brackets, constructed and arranged whereby aclear space is formed between the upper face of the fixed die and the under side of the clearer-bars for the passage of the material to be punched, substantially as described. I 5

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRED TALCOTT. Vitnesses GEO. H. REMINGTON, IDA H. VARREN. 

